# NTSB ERA17LA328: Piper J3C, N38365, Hanover Township, PA, September 16, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 16, 2017, 16:49 local (20:49 UTC) - Place: Hanover Township, PA - Coordinates: 40.523612, -80.406387 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5236&lon=-80.4064&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96036 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA328 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96036/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96036 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA328 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain roll control while maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was conducting a local, personal flight. He reported that, about 1,000 ft above ground level and as he began turning the airplane left, it rolled faster than he expected and then "rolled over" into an inverted attitude. The pilot regained control of the airplane, and when the airplane was straight and level, he saw treetops. He tried to pull up, but the airplane impacted trees and then terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot stated, and a postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed, that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the flight controls that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On September 16, 2017, about 1649 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N38365, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain while maneuvering near Hanover Township, Pennsylvania. The private pilot and pilot-rated passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight that departed Herron Airport (7G1), New Cumberland, West Virginia. The airplane was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.According to the pilot, he and the passenger made two previous local flights that day before the accident flight. During the third flight of the day, approximately 1,000 ft above ground level, he started a left turn and the airplane rolled over into an inverted attitude. The pilot further stated, "in a bat of an eye it rolled over." He then corrected the roll and when the airplane was straight and level, he saw some tree tops. He tried to pull up, but the airplane contacted the tree tops and impacted the ground. The pilot stated there were no mechanical issues with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. According to the pilot-rated passenger, they were flying along with friends, who were flying their airplanes. One of their friend's airplanes passed them to the left and they were going to turn left and follow it. During the turn to the left, the airplane rolled over. She further stated, "it rolled over so fast she could not believe it." They contacted some tree tops and impacted the ground. She stated there were no mechanical issues with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane had sustained damage to the forward and aft wing spar on the left wing. The right main landing gear was separated. One propeller blade was bent. The bulkhead fuel tank was ruptured. Cable continuity was established to all flight controls. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38365](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38365), registered now, S/N 6973, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER J3C (65) - Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6973 - Year built: 1941 - Airframe hours: 3200 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C-90-8 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 2017 - Departed: 7G1, NEW CUMBERLAND, WV - Destination: 7G1, NEW CUMBERLAND, WV - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 30, 2017; seat: rear; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 230 total, 195 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1.5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 24; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 30, 2017; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 127 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KPIT, 9 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20170916020589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170916020589A), Sep 16, 2017: Piper J3C-65, Hanover, PA, Substantial damage. On September 16, 2017 at approximately 2049Z a Piper J-3 cub (N38365) crashed into the driveway of 239 mckenzie rd in Hanover twp, PA. The FAA regional… ## Other investigations on N38365 (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB FTW75FPD25](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW75FPD25), Jan 26, 1975: Piper J3C-65 (N38365), Santos, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 12, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96036. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 223 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478981&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478982&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 221 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478983&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot-rated Passenger (item 4, .PDF, 214 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478984&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-rated%20Passenger-Master.PDF - Investigative Photos (item 5, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478985&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.